Open Systems, Inc.

Impress Software (now part of Aptean) has served the apparel decorating and promotional products industry for over 20 years, offering a comprehensive ERP solution designed specifically for screen printing, embroidery, and decoration businesses. The platform provides extensive functionality for managing all aspects of apparel decoration operations.

However, many shop owners are exploring alternatives due to:

• Severely outdated user interface — Multiple users describe Impress as "a child of the 90's that never had a rewrite" and note that "Impress seems to be stuck in the 90's," making it feel antiquated compared to modern cloud-based solutions with intuitive interfaces
• Steep and lengthy learning curve — Users report "it takes weeks to start to figure it out," significantly delaying time-to-value and requiring substantial training investment for new team members
• Expensive customization requirements — A major complaint is that "they'll charge you to develop these features," with users warning that "to have this tailored for your company's fit will end up costing you a lot of money" on top of the base software cost
• Reliability and stability issues — Users report the software "could be a bit glitchy at times," causing disruptions to daily operations and requiring workarounds
• Poor user experience leading to abandonment — Some users report planning to "stop our subscription and find something more user friendly" after just 3 months of use due to frustration with the outdated interface and usability issues
• No transparent pricing — Impress requires contacting sales for enterprise pricing, with no publicly disclosed rates, making it difficult to evaluate cost before significant time investment

If you're frustrated by outdated software that looks and feels like it's from the 1990s, tired of paying extra for basic customizations, or need a system your team can learn in days rather than weeks, the alternatives below offer more modern, user-friendly solutions designed for today's apparel decoration businesses.